Tropical Fish Forum
General Non-Fishkeeping Chat => Other Pets => Topic started by: Matt on February 03, 2021, 12:42:17 AM
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Entirely possible I might be cycling a saltwater setup....
Got a little live rock, a lot of dry rock and salt water, a wave maker (these things are far more than just a pump! I never realised...) and one of my spare heaters in a plastic tote waiting for the magic to happen. Tank is on order, coral sand is washed and ready to go!
The wave maker is only a cheap one from my local fish store and has speed settings, wave settings (power goes on and off or up and down to simulate a wave the time between waves can even be adjusted), turns itself down at night, feeding mode (turns off for 10 mins). Pretty amazing for £50 I thought!!
The live rock is absolutely fascinating. I have a little clam, a couple of feather duster worms, and an amphipod (I’ve only seen a shedded exoskeleton), and probably much more I’ve yet to see! Just ordered some phytoplankton on Amazon prime to keep them fed.
Been happily testing water and planning the tank the last few days! You don’t need to add ammonia to get the cycle going either... die off from transport takes care of this! I’m waiting for an ammonia increase first as a result (though there is a little present already 0.25 mg/l ish so things are definately starting to happen!!) also having to keep an eye on KH which I’ve already had to boost from 7 to 9 (should be between 8 and 12) for which I used washing water from doing the coral sand.
Got the water temperature at 28 to get the cycle going and it’s in the spare (unheated) room. I’m going to have to get some RO water to top the tote up in the next couple of days as I don’t want the salinity to increase too much.
Hoping to go for:
Corals:
Euphyllia
Bubble
Pulsing Xenia
Macroalgae (seaweed!):
Caulerpa Racemosa Cylindracea
Caulerpa Prolifera
Gracilaria Mammillaris
Solieria
Invertebrates:
Banded Trochus Turbo Snail
Cerith snail
Red legged hermit crab
Mithrax crab
Shrimp:
Randall’s pistol shrimp (forms a mutual relationship with the hi fin goby)
Fish:
Percula clownfish (Nemo!)
Green clown goby
Hi fin goby
Royal grammar
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A new adventure! I shall be watching with interest. My husband would never agree to another tank but didn't someone once coin the term 'fish tank by proxy' ;D
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@fcmf I think!!
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Wow - what a development... you kept any thoughts on that possibility quiet! Congrats on an additional tank - what size is it? All sounds very exciting/fascinating, although I have zilch knowledge in that arena, so you'll have to keep us updated as you go along so that we can learn.
:fishy1:
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This is very exciting ;D
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The tank is 60 litres. Marine fish seem to generally be larger so there’s not room for much really a pair of clown fish, a goby and I want to ensure my management of nitrate levels is going ok before going any further than that. There is good scope for more invertebrates and crabs though.
I plan to grow macroalgae (seaweed) to help in this regard which is not always the norm in a reef tank - I am starting to understand coral though and think the soft coral species also help. The general ide seems to be to keep water changes minimal whilst exporting the max amount of nutrients. It seems a slightly risky strategy compared to large water changes but with the cost of ro and remineralisation, salt etc it starts to make sense. That’s what skimmers help with (although I don’t have one!)
The tank is very much a starter all in one thing. It is absolutely amazing value for money though - a Maidenhead aquatics exclusive - they have done very well to get it. I would like to think I can keep the costs not too excessive, though I won’t skimp if I think something is neccessary. I just bought a bottle of phytoplankton for example to feed the critters I have currently as I was concerned for their future (probably overkill based on my research but...)
Making the move to the dark side has a lot to do with being bored in lockdown I’m afraid. I always wanted to try it - had thought this would be a ‘once the kids moved out’ thing tho... what also helps is I’ve got my tanks to a point now where the maintenance is so minimal and they are stable etc so I can be more confident in taking on something else.
Below is a copy of my notes on planning thing out if anyone wants to take a look...
Corals
Euphyllia (long polyp hard coral - a bit harder to keep than soft coral and needs calcium for growth)
Pulsing Xenia (soft coral has what look like hands that open and shut)
Finger leather coral (branching soft coral)
Macroalgae
Caulerpa Racemosa Cylindracea - green
Caulerpa Prolifera - green
Gracilaria Mammillaris - red
Solieria / Gracilaria Tikvahiae - red
Invertebrates
Banded Trochus Turbo Snai
Cerith snail ( turns over substrate )
Red legged hermit crab (might attack Cerith snail for its shell if bigger one not provided)
Mithrax crab
Shrimp
Randall’s pistol shrimp ( pairs with hi fin goby, red and white stripes)
Fish
Percula clownfish ( eventually get anemone - these need feeding e.g. prawns)
Green clown goby (tiny!)
Hi fin goby (black and white stripes with yellow head)
Royal grammar ( purple and gold - some sources say needs larger tank ?)
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I'm looking forward to watching your progress on this Matt. 8)
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Well unfortunately the tank is delayed - Brexit has halted deliveries and they are sold out almost everywhere! As are my prizes from the gallery competition. The local shop has sourced one in the Carlisle shop and is getting it sent down to them. Hopefully early next week (fingers crossed). As I didn’t get much live rock and I therefore didn’t get much die off - I know the tank can deal with 0.5 mg/l in 24 hours but I don’t have anything left to dose it with. I’ve decided based on the advice of members of a reefing forum that the time has come to stock a couple of snails and a hermit crab. Without the tank available I’m going to have to cling film the current setup (and pierce some ‘breathing holes’). Still, I’m excited to be getting some critters!!
Been super impressed with the MicrobeLift Special Blend and Nite-Out II which are very oddly named starter bacteria products. I do believe these have played a significant part in getting my tank to this stage so quickly - I would definitely recommend them (though would caution about leaving the window open for the first dose of Special Blend - it stinks to high heaven!!!)
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Best of luck with keeping everything going until the tank arrives.
I hope your critters enjoy their temporary set up. :)
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Well I’ll not be able to pick up till Thursday - it lands Tue evening and I’m working Wed! I got some RO so I can keep the tank topped up and have added a partial make shift cling film lid to further help here.
Oh and more importantly I got the critters :fishy1: (well not quite fish yet!)
Going clockwise in the photo from top left
1. Cerith snail, algae eater, also eats other detritus and buries intro he sand keeping it from going anaerobic
2. Banded Turbo snail (not that you can tell due to the Corraline algae on its shell - it’s a good algae and will eventually cover nearly all the rockwork - a sign of a mature and stable system) which is an algae eater
3. Red legged hermit crab (fully aquatic and max size 1 inch - super cute - my absolute favourite already! I could hear him skuttling about earlier on the sides of the tank :)
4. Macro algae - not 100% sure on IDs but suspect Caulerpa Serrulata and Gracilaria Mammillaris - already really liking these too and will definately be getting more - currently wondering if I might end up preferring it to coral ::)
Added half an algae wafer (as I had them). And have seen everyone eat. Worryingly I think the hermit has already got desires for a new shell - or it may well have simply been hungry - removed it forcibly from the Cerith snail earlier (they can kill snails and steal their shell) - I’ll get it some alternatives, free from snails to choose from! I have some Hikari crab cuisine on order for everybodies next feeding.
I really need to get my nitrate to come down now - time to see how good the macroalgae is!! Even after a water change I’m still at 30mg/l. I’ll need to at least double the water volume when I get the tank so that will no doubt help. Got my KH up using bicarbonate of soda to maintain ph above 8 as is desired on the Marine side!
Got a royal gramma reserved for pick up in a couple of weeks time assuming all is still well. They really are stunning fish especially when seen in the flesh. I’ll post a photo from the web of that too...
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Your critters are very cute. I can see why you like the crab. ;D
When you mentioned growing macroalgae in your first post I couldn't help but smile when I thought it was probably the marine equivalent of aquascaping. Perhaps you could start a new movement towards marine macroalgae aquascaping. 8)
Stunning colours on the fish. I'm looking forward to seeing lots of pics as this tank progresses.
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Perhaps you could start a new movement towards marine macroalgae aquascaping. 8)
I wondered if someone might say that! I had the same thought! I actually think I prefer the more natural looking algae colours to the less natural fluorescent coloured corals. There are some “non-disco rave” species too of course but I think by avoiding them I’m probably not doing the reefing hobby justice lol
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Some of my inspiration...
Credit to inappropriatereefer for the first one containing a mix of macroalgae and corals and tigahboy.h2o for the others which are macroalgae only.
Compare that to the last image a google search for ‘reef tank’ - these are much more gaudy (to my eyes)
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I see what you mean.
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I’ve discovered that it has something to do with lighting - blue light brings out the fluorescents in the corals. If you don’t have the blues up so high (common in reef lighting) then you don’t get that look so much... I need to get the shop to alter their lighting for a bit for me next time I’m in!
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Got the tank!!! Just not got the light yet so below is lit temporarily (should only be a few days with a spare freshwater light I had.
I still need to do a couple of tweaks - right hand most rock structure needs to be turned clockwise (looking from the top) about 20 degrees as it looks a bit flat on to the front glass right now. And that piece of coral rock stuff on the left is currently hiding a really nice cave in the rock structure on the left hand side... can’t quite figure out where to put that piece just yet... but don’t want it there!
Managed to get a freebie piece of Botryocladia (macroalgae - the red one on the left hand side) too which isn’t exactly looking it’s best right now but I’m hopeful it soon will.
Water parameters so far are still good despite the move but tomorrow will be a better test of things in that respect.
Can’t wait for the bubbles the clear - water already looking quite clear thanks to some careful water adding (little usb pump! - slow but effective) and copious amounts of sand washing.
Being able to see the cerith snail dig into the sand for the first time was pretty nice - as was seeing the hermit crab properly (or not top down) as this has been the only angle available to this point given the yellow plastic tote! Toddler Matt kept saying ‘here’ and pointing at it - and whenever it moved he’d say ‘weeeee’! Soo sweet!!
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Your hermit crab is very cute. ;D
So is toddler Matt's curly hair. 8)
I'm looking forward to seeing lots more pics of this tank. :cheers:
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More update photos, as requested :rotfl:
The last three seem to all be rotated the wrong way but you get the idea!!!
The hermit crab moulted then decided to climb up the silicone for a bit ::)
First picture is of the feather duster worm which seems to be growing each day!
Edited to add: I’ve added one of the cerith snail looking like an elephant :rotfl:
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I like the adjustment in the positioning of the rocks. 8)
I'm fascinated by this tank and all of your critters. The crab is quite the character. ;D
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Here is the royal gramma - a little thin but already eating well. Took him (I think) a bit of time to settle in the tank in part due to the increased flow vs the shop tank (for a while when I switched the wavemaker off he’d come straight out and I’ve slowly been increasing flow). They are a cave dweller, it’s so cute that he retreats to his special cave when he’s not comfortable and then peaks out at us watching to check it’s ok to come back out a minute later. Still not venturing very far from his cave but I’m sure that will come with time too.
I never got a nitrite reading during the initial cycle but I am getting a small one now - fortunately it’s only a small ready and salt reduces the toxicity of nitrite so it’s nothing to worry about for now -in fact many reefers suggest you don’t need to even bother testing for nitrite. Still I’ll be keeping an eye on things! I’m adding a bacteria in a bottle product but it’s an old bottle and I’m not sure will make much difference. No ammonia reading though - this does make me wonder if the nitrite eaters take longer to multiply or something - I’ll do some research...
In other news the snails are a bit of a menace (I’m fairly certain they are to blame!) each night they get extra active and are managing to dislodge rockwork, macroalgae etc etc. I’m trying to get better and better with snuggling them into nooks and crannies but am being beaten so far!! A daily battle at the moment!!
I bought a slightly more sensitive macro algae that turns a bluey pinky purple once settled. They are rare to find and so I wanted to secure it whilst I could but I’m not sure if it’s going to make it in the tank - a lot of die off taking place (turning it white). I’m hopeful a small portion will survive for growing on. The green macroalgae (fastest growing species) is putting down roots and I’ve seen a little growth already too. I’m very pleased with that one ::)
I learned that a good filter sock/ filter floss in a marine tank sump/filter can help remove up to 40% of excess nutrients from the tank and so am trying to optimise my set up a little to encourage the flow to pass through my filter floss (my only filter media due to the live rock).
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Well I meant to send the above update yesterday evening and found it when I came on to post just now so unedited it got sent. Still eating well and getting used to the wavemaker now and feeling much more confident overall and seeing more of it which is great. Next step will be to increase the wave maker to normal operating flow (tomorrow) and I’ll leave it on a low flow setting tonight rather than turning it off as I have been doing.
I received the final piece of my macroalgae puzzle in the post today. Codium. Its very seaweedy looking, I really like it. And it’s hardier than the last one that isn’t doing so well!!
Still got my nitrite reading but it’s stable so still not worrying!!
Oh and the snails behaved a bit better last night ;) just One bit of fixing to do!
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The colours on the gramma are amazing.
Your new macroalgae is quite funky too. 8)
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Royal Gramma is gorgeous. 8)
The snails' antics have amused me. ;D
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Blue Ochtodes looking worse again today unfortunately - I’m almost at the point of calling it quits with it BUT I now have zero nitrite :D
Marginal rise in nitrate as might be expected given the bacteria have now caught up on converting the nitrite but not a huge leap and I can see visible growth in my botrocladyia and caulerpa (my largest pieces of macroalgae) over the last couple of days too so I’m hopeful that nitrate will start to come down too. I received and added some macroalgae ferts today too so my hope is that they will start to tackle that problem (I call it a problem but I know a big water change will get me back into a good place too... In fact I might do just that in the coming days.
I have reserved a hi fin banded goby for collection this time next week when I hope to get a couple of hardy corals too. I was surprised and pleased that they could be added so soon. Pulsing Xenia which actively opens and closes over a few seconds over and over again adding some great movement to the tank. And a finger leather coral. Which is a ‘softie’ (an easy type of coral) but looks like a reef building hard coral (much less hardy) which I can add now and won’t cause me to have to closely monitor my KH.
Made the somewhat stupid error of forgetting to switch the heater back after working on the tank yesterday evening and woke up at 4am having remembered (!?) and went and turned it back on - temperature had only dropped to 22 C - phew!! I’ve only ever done that once before in many many years of fishkeeping - a sign of the times I suspect!!
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I'm looking forward to seeing lots of pics of your new arrivals. The goby looks gorgeous, and I can't wait to see it in your tank. :afro
This may have to be my "tank by proxy" too. ;D
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Tanks by proxy fully supported!!
Well I don’t know if the ferts I dosed are totally to blame but the Botryocladia is now growing and the ‘grapes’ are expanding (photo below). I suspect it is partly ferts and partly it has now had time to adjust to the tank. The blue Ochtodes continues to deteriorate.
I did manage to find time for that water change earlier - changing probably just shy of 40% and my nitrates are now under 20, but only just. I was keen to do the water change because I have noticed I am started to get the inevitable diatoms. As such I have also reduce lighting duration temporarily too. I did see my banded trochus having a munch on this earlier though.
Not much to report other than this and I’m not sure if there will be for a while - I’m not planning on going to the fish shop in any rush as the weather here is turning consistently dry now for a while - I’ll let the tank settle and enjoy what I can of the sunshine! That said I may be about to receive some hardy fast growing corals in the post....I’ll keep you posted ::)
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Made the somewhat stupid error of forgetting to switch the heater back after working on the tank yesterday evening and woke up at 4am having remembered (!?) and went and turned it back on - temperature had only dropped to 22 C - phew!!
I've done that too - I once woke at a similar time, convinced of something I'd omitted in a piece of work; got up to check and I was completely correct. Mr FCMF has often woken up with the solution to something he couldn't figure out during the daytime. If/when sleeping, I assume the brain must go over the day's activities and remember or work out certain things.
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Not much left now but I think the Blue Ochtodes die off has ceased (fingers crossed). Not very blue yet and probably not going to go very blue any time soon and I’m keeping lighting low at the moment to limit diatom growth. I’m definitely in stage 4 of the cycling process with the diatoms (see: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/cycle-process-and-stages.284898/ (https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/cycle-process-and-stages.284898/)), not looking forward to the cyano bacteria hair algae to come either!
Nitrates still up at around 18ppm so still stable but no improvement just yet.
Going to try and go pick up an astrea snail (because it will eat both diatoms and hair algae as well) or a saltwater nerite (yes same “order” as freshwater - I don’t know if order is the right word but you know what I mean) snail soon (which can right itself unlike the astrea but won’t eat hair algae). Not convinced my cerith spends much time on the rockwork as it like to bury itself in the sand. I don’t want to overstock with snails in the long term though.
Fattening up diet for the royal gramma seems to be going well - visibly looking fatter (or at least fuller!) already... also getting more and more confident and exploring more of the tank, feeding from the surface etc as the days pass. Not convinced I need my wave maker any more powerful than quarter setting for now (might change as corals go in and start baffling the flow) as it appears to be constantly fighting it and food doesn’t really settle already.
Codium has started to open up (it’s has fuzzy hairy bits now!) which shows its happy in the tank too which is great/weird to see. The Botryocladia grapes continue to grow too.
I think I’ve come up with a genius was to add the filter floss to the filter section. You can get media baskets to fits I to the end section with the return pump and heater but they are nearly £50. I then found for £20 a 3D printed little basket that clips on to the baffles like a car phone holder or fragrance might clip to a car vent. I’ve since realised I should be able to cut a piece the aquarium came with (which I wasn’t using) to serve the same purpose and it will be hidden so if there is any roughness to my work it shouldn’t matter... super not helpful photo showing not very well what I mean :rotfl:
I’ve got a couple of hardy corals being posted on Wednesday to hopefully arrive Thursday. Pulsing Xenia and Green Star Polyp. Excited!!! Final photos showing full tank and where I plan to place the Xenia (red) on a piece of isolated rockwork (it’s spreads like a weed apparently) and move the codium to - and where I want to place the green star polyps - like a little carpeting plant (that would be my perspective having my planted tank background lol). And another photo showing a the tank I got the idea from!!
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Enjoying your updates, admiring your tank and especially the royal gramma. 8)
If you got a couple of nerites, you might be able to start a breeding project in a saltwater tank too. ;)
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Im sticking to one of each snail so I don’t get any breeding! I don’t want a repeat of freshwater pest snails!!!...
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Completed the filter floss mod :cheers:
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I got a saltwater nerite yesterday on a quick scoot past the fish shop which involved the breefest of stops too of course ;). Seems to be doing a good job of tackling the green algae. (Can’t get the photo to post right now... will add later)
I also received a few days ago the green star polyp coral which is renowned for being a bit grumpy at times when there is a change in the tank or it’s position etc is now staring to expand (the polyps will get longer yet) and look good. It’s photographed here next to my blue Ochtodes. Still not blue but definately settled and definately no longer dieing off!
The other macroalgae is all growing well, some species are faster growing than others of course and the Caulerpa Serrulata has even had its first trim to remove the bits covered in algae from the beginning - so now I have a pristine plant/macro.
The Xenia looks no different from when I first introduced it... yet. Hoping another couple of days and it will have settled - no obvious signs of it not being happy other than it still being shrunk up. A couple of small bits have disintegrated but that’s no totally unusual I don’t believe. This stuff is hard as nails I’m told and a weed in most tanks so I’m not too concerned yet! The photo shows the little drag things they came on (disc with a rod at the bottom)
I’ve been offered to preorder some Australian live rock. This is basically Australian coral reef - there is of course very tight permitting indeed around its collection and will have been collected sustainably but there are very few opportunities to do so and likely there will be fewer in future. It’s likely this is a once in a lifetime opportunity in fact and so I’m wondering about converting my freshwater shrimp tank to a marine inverts and macro algae tank and getting some of this stuff. It would be an instantly matured tank, will come with freebie corals and macroalgae and looks so natural compared to the artificial flourecscent reefs I referred to earlier in the thread. It’s a mere £22 a kilo BUT I am very temptedt!!
Got off the water test press: my nitrates have started to drop :cheers: *i think! Ok so one test doesn’t really prove anything but I’ll keep an eye on things over the next couple of days and if the trend continues then I’ll do a big water change on wednesday evening and will be getting my next fish - a hi fin goby (pairs with a pistol shrimp and guards it’s burrow) . Week to be honest I’ll be getting the fish regardless of it comes in in the Tuesday evening Maidenhead delivery for me - I’ve got it reserved ;D but if my nitrates are stable/ on a downward trend then this probably means I can get more corals and shrimp soon which is very exciting!!
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Ok well the Xenia unfortunately didn’t make it, it became detached overnight and I found it in an area of low flow and it disintegrated when I went near it. There was one tiny polyp left on the frag plug and I moved the plug to a spot in the rear of the scape just in case but I doubt there will be a successful outcome.
My nitrates have definitely reduced though from previous levels - about 16 ppm now (I did do a 10% water change tonight but they were down from the previous 22 ppm about 5 days ago before I did the change). This is excellent timing for picking up the hi fin goby on Thursday. I might get a finger leather coral too... we shall see. It’s a softie coral (easy to care for) but looks like a reef building branching coral
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Good to read of your update and see your photos, @Matt - but sorry that the xenia didn't survive. Looking forward to seeing your hi-fin goby and the new coral if/once you get them.
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Well overdue an update on this: I’m doing a part time university course and had an assignment due, that plus extra tank care associated with the start up phase, having a toddler blah blah, life basically got in the way!!
I added the hi fin goby and pistol shrimp (these pair up and the goby inhabits the shrimps burrow and helps feed it and protect it), x4 types of macroalgae I got as a freebie - Caulerpa Prolifera (Wow that stuff grows fast!!, I also really like its looks), Gracilaria Hayi (similar to the Mammillaris), Gracilaria Tikvahiae (I must say I think this stuff is really pretty, a much finer texture/more delicate looking plant thank the others) and Cryptonemia Crenulata (really nice spikey edges to the leaves) - some more Green Star Polyp and Xenia also got as a freebie (I did really well thanks to a new “hobby friend”) , a colt coral and three sexy shrimp.
The pistol shrimp (Randall’s) decided to head straight for the filter section so was quickly rescued and was seen digging later that evening. The hi fin goby went a similar way after a period of lookin quite stressed then once rescued and rescued again, found its shrimp friend and instantly settled in.
The sexy shrimp are amazing little characters shaking their booties to communicate with each other as they do :rotfl:
I have however lost the royal gramma :'( it is a rather gruesome tail but needless to say it went downhill very quickly and unexpectedly and I have had a number of conversations with saltwater people and we are yet to explain what happened other than the fish was weak and it’s a marine tank, unexpected things happen (the marine hobby is a lot less ‘understood’ than the freshwater - lots more unexpectedness and unidentifiable pests etc.) I treated the tank with an antibacterial med (filtration and invert safe) which I have subsequently removed with carbon.
I did discover by chance through sharing a photo of one such unidentified item (which in now know to be a paly coral - not an attractive one and one that can literally kill you due to paly toxin... great! This is a coral type I was not going to introduce despite most being super colourful... hit the jackpot there :rotfl:) in the background to this photo though a aptasia could be seen - I had thought this was a feather duster worm but am glad it was spotted because aptasia (like a mini anemone) quickly become an issue - as a result I bought a peppermint shrimp who has swiftly dealt with them before they got to plague proportions.
So overall the tank now seems to have little life in it as the goby and pistol shrimp naturally hides, just the sexy shrimp to keep me entertained at the moment!!!
I’ve added a little more dry rock on the left and right hand sides of the scape to get a better triangle shape going which currently looks a bit odd as the contrast with the more mature darker rock is currently quite extreme. Photoshopping it and making it darker shows a better result and I’m happy with the adjustment. I’ve also hidden the wavemaker behind the rock work and removed the flow splitter output thingy of the filter pump for a cleaner look in the tank (hated seeing all that stuff in there - possibly a freshwater hangover!)
(Posting now then will add photos momentarily)
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More photos
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Sorry to hear that you lost the royal gramma @Matt :(
You did mention that it was quite thin when you got it, so perhaps it was a weak specimen.
Still disappointing though.
Your tank is looking great and I love your goby & shrimp combo. They look so cute together. ;D
I have a leaning towards what I tend to think of a "grumpy fish", which often involved anything with a wide or down-turned mouth, and all gobies are in that category. :cheers:
Glad to heat that you found some time in your very full/hectic life to post some pics. I don't know where you find the energy to keep on top of so much.
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Thanks @Littlefish it helps that I’m only currently working 3 days a week due to being part time furloughed!!
I should clarify the shrimp in the photo with the goby is not the pistol shrimp but the peppermint shrimp.
I don’t have a photo of the pistol shrimp unfortunately. It is a Randall’s Pistol which is white and red striped (in the same stripe direction as the goby). It is so-called because one of its claws is modified to shoot a jet of water with such velocity it creates very high temperatures and a flash of light. I’ve seen the flash and heard the click.
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I'm also impressed at how you're managing to juggle so much - well done!
Also very sorry to read about the lovely royal gramma.
Otherwise, photos look great, and loving your updates (even although some of it feels like a different world from freshwater keeping).
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Just got 2 clownfish *D
Also picked up a couple of money cowrie which I’m finding fascinating too. These are the shells that used to get traded as money and we commonly find on the beach. These snails have a ‘skin’ they extend over the top of their shell which is colourful and spikey!
Happy to see with just the goby as the sole fish in the tank for a bit that my nitrates came down from around 17 to around 13 ppm over a week.
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Very envious! 8)
Learning lots from your thread!
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Great to see your new gang. 8)
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Goodness… this needs and update and a half… I recall I stopped posting here as I had trouble with the clownfish and got a bit down and nearly out of the saltwater hobby over it.
It’s been a long journey let’s just say but steering clear of common clownfish seemed to be the fix and I have now got a thriving tank including anemones, a royal gramma, neon goby and clown goby, and lots of other interesting critters. I’ve really got into macroalgae in quite a big way. In contrast to corals they are inexpensive, easier to care for, need less equipment and provide a great sense of movement as they waft about in the flow. Win win as far as I’m concerned and I personally feel they look much more natural than coral tanks with blue lights and fluorescent corals - photo below.
I had a pico macroalgae tank set up for a good while (before baby Matt number 2 arrived!) with some Eviotas (tiny gobies), some interesting inverts like boxer crab and floating/swimming see-through shrimp, hermit crabs etc and grew some mangroves in it for a while - photo also below. This tank is no longer with us though.
The reason I thought to look at this thread was because I’m actually considering clownfish again… a different species this time Clarkii clownfish. They readily pair with an anemone and it’s just the absolute dream to have this symbiotic relationship on show in my tank. I do feel nervous given the troubles I had previously but I know I’m doing everything right and the tank is much more matur, the water crystal clean etc etc and therefore I think the time has come! (Not my videos but to give a sense of Clarkii colouration etc see https://youtu.be/HfR-wW8wg50 (https://youtu.be/HfR-wW8wg50)
https://youtu.be/C2l03izxM84 (https://youtu.be/C2l03izxM84)
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Absolutely love both those tanks - in different ways - but my fave is that top one with its stunning fishes and its different shades of macroalgae. 8)
Keep us posted on its progress and if you do get the Clarkii clownfish.
:fishy1: